Lights, camera, action! Grease: Live, the musical television production on Fox, was spectacular. No comparisons should be made to Broadway or movies; musicals on TV with a live audience are a new art form.

Star power, ingenuity and epic production numbers were combined to make this three- hour musical an event worth watching.

Julianne Hough (Sandy), Vanessa Hudgens (Rizzo), Keke Palmer (Marty), and Carly Rae Jepson (Frenchy) each effortlessly brought these characters to life. Jessie J opened the musical, walking through the backstage as the actors prepped, singing, “Grease is the Word.”

The scenes were spread across Warner Brother’s lot, with the cast finishing one scene and hopping onto golf carts to get to get to the next location. The live audience was in each scene, either participating or watching.

The cameras kept running after an “on stage” scene ended and the cast ran backstage to get to the next set. It was unique, like the production was in a fish bowl.

Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo was a scene-stealer.

Her performance was even more impressive, considering her father’s passing just hours before the show. She definitely stole the show, singing “Look At Me Sandra Dee” and “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.”

Vanessa and Carlos Penavega had warm chemistry in their scenes together. Although I am partial to the great Olivia Newton-John as Sandy, Julianne Hough was amazing in every dance.

The “Born to Hand Jive” scene in the school gym was phenomenal, and I wanted to jump into the gym and join along.

If you love Grease and musicals, I highly recommend watching it. It can now be seen On Demand. This is a different way of performing a classic musical that has brightened and filled people’s hearts for years. Bravo!